Case Study Paper #2
The goal of the case study paper is to apply course concepts to a real-life example of communication. The ability to apply course concepts to a real-life example will help you make use of the information you learn in class in "the real world." To complete the assignment you must clearly demonstrate your ability to apply the course material (lectures and readings) to the case scenario. Make sure to define each concept you use and make an explicit connection between the concepts cited and the case provided.
For this second case study, you will read a pre-written prompt. From the prompt, you will identify macro and micro-level concepts as well as make recommendations based on the case scenario. You will analyze the case scenario using course concepts from the second section of the course (Listening, Developing and Maintaining Relationships, Managing Conflict in Relationships). You can certainly reference the first section of the course, but it is recommended that you focus primarily on content from the second half of the course.
Remember that the first section of the course features distinctions on listening, developing and maintaining relationships, and managing conflict in relationships. You will want to make recommendations based on what you think is the best course of action to remedy this issue. You are the critical analyst here, so write these recommendations with the imagined power that these changes will go into effect immediately.
Specifically, you should accomplish three goals:
- First, you should evaluate macro-level concepts (Attachment Styles, Knapp's stair case model, Relational Maintenance, etc.) that apply to the case.
- Next, you will focus on the micro-level components that help to illustrate the course concepts (e.g., specific concepts from any lecture or reading such as perception, conflict, marital schemata, attraction, etc
- Finally, make recommendations citing macro and micro-level concepts on how to improve or change the case scenario. How might you recommend the situation be improved? Please specifically cite macro and micro-level components from the text to help reinforce your ideas.
Your paper should be 5 double-spaced pages (excluding references) in Times New Roman 12- point font with 1" margins. Your paper should explicitly reference content from the textbook.
Quotations should include language such as, "Cognitive complexity is a term that describes... (O'Hair et al., 2015, p. XX)."
Papers will be graded according to the following criteria: Macro/Micro Analysis (10 points): Clearly demonstrate how the concepts relate to your case. How does the textbook help us understand what occurred in the case? Be sure to provide clear, direct, and persuasive links between the text reviewed and the case. If you cannot clearly articulate why we should be paying attention then you are likely not fulfilling the requirements of this assignment.
Recommendations: Makes 2-3 analytical and insightful recommendations for what should have been done or could be done in the future regarding the issue/event you analyzed. When you make your recommendations, be sure to draw on the textbook content you reviewed to support the importance or effectiveness of your recommendations. You should also aim to make your recommendations as specific as possible. Why is your recommendation valuable to the overall argument you are making in the paper?
Writing and style: Writing is clear, concise, direct, and free of grammatical and spelling errors. In-text citations and a reference page for all non-original information are included. Follows paper formatting requirements (margins, font, spacing, page limits).